Mode-locked laser for very-wide-band communication systems

The results are given of an investigation of mode locking in an He–Ne laser used in a fast-response communication system. A determination is reported of the frequency width of the mode-locking band in which optical pulses of stable amplitude and phase, suitable for communication purposes, are generated. It is shown that the unavoidable variations of the laser parameters have a strong influence on the optimal intracavity modulation frequency and the necessary (for mode locking) magnitude of dissipative perturbations. The results are given of a study of the phase characteristics of an optical pulse generator based on a mode-locked He–Ne laser. It is shown that stabilized self-mode-locking can be used to improve the phase stability of the output light pulses.